The former husband of Australian journalist and media maven Ita Buttrose is suing the ABC following his negative depiction in two part ABC series Paper Giants: The Birth Of Cleo.
Alisdair “Mac” Macdonald, Buttrose’s first husband and father to two of her children, presented his case before the NSW Supreme Court claiming that he was depicted as a “selfish, irresponsible and pitiably weak man” who was “so threatened by the success of his wife that he deserted her”.
The court viewed footage from the program including a scene where Mac is seen abandoning Ita and their unborn child because of his own existential crisis. “Ita, I have to tell you something.” his character says. “I need to go away for a while, I need to think this through. I need to find myself, I need to be a free spirit.”
Justice Henric Nicholas said that there was “ample basis” for the matter be decided by a jury at trial but instead referred the parties to mediation. If unsuccessful, the matter will return to court in May.
